The Amazing Race

The Amazing Race is a reality television game show in which teams of two people, who have some form of a preexisting personal relationship, race around the world in competition with other teams. Contestants strive to arrive first at "pit stops” at the end of each leg of the race to win prizes and to avoid coming in last, which carries the possibility of elimination or a significant disadvantage in the following leg (segment).

This past weekend our church, Every Nation Tallahassee (ENT), hosted our annual Fall Festival at the Florida State University Reservation. We ate great food and had a wonderful time of fellowship and fun. One of the games that made our Fall Festival such a blast was our own version of The Amazing Race. Congratulations to our first place winners Jonathan and Lauren Arias. They are fortunate that I chose not to compete!

While I was watching my fellow members of ENT compete in The Amazing Race, I started to think about Apostle Paul's description of what it is like to live out the Christian faith. 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 says:

24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

I’ve heard many preachers compare Christianity to a marathon, but I think it is more like The Amazing Race. Christianity is about living in obedience to Jesus as you walk with Him and pass the tests of life at each “pit stop” along the way. There is no better person than Jesus to help us win this race because He has already won the most amazing race of all time.

Let’s do a recap on Jesus’ major “pit stops” during His amazing race on earth:

1. The virgin Mary gives birth to Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
2. Joseph is warned by an angel in a dream that King Herod is going to try to kill the baby Jesus. They successfully escape to Egypt.
3. Jesus does not yield to the temptations of the devil in the desert after forty days and forty night of fasting.
4. Jesus lives a sinless life while living and ministering on planet earth.
5. Jesus, in obedience to God the Father’s will, dies on a cross for the sins of humanity.
6. On the third day, Jesus is resurrected from the grave proving He is the Son of God.

Apostle Paul had a life changing experience when he received Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. He went from being a chief persecutor of Christianity to one of the greatest church planting apostles in history. Facing certain death in prison for his faith, he had confidence that he was going to receive the reward for finishing strong in his amazing race. In 2 Timothy 4:6-8 he writes:

6For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

We can face eternity with expectation and hope when we live our life on earth in obedience to Jesus Christ. He will give us the grace, wisdom and perseverance we need to run our amazing race in life well. With Christ leading the way, we can pass the test at each “pit stop” and receive an award that has eternal significance, glory and honor. Run well my friends!